Leucokinin and Associated Neuropeptides Regulate Multiple Aspects of Physiology and Behavior in Drosophila

Leucokinins (LKs) constitute a family of neuropeptides identified in numerous insects and many other invertebrates. LKs act on G-protein-coupled receptors that display only distant relations to other known receptors. In adult Drosophila, 26 neurons/neurosecretory cells of three main types express LK. The four brain interneurons are of two types, and these are implicated in several important functions in the fly’s behavior and physiology, including feeding, sleep–metabolism interactions, state-dependent memory formation, as well as modulation of gustatory sensitivity and nociception. The 22 neurosecretory cells (abdominal LK neurons, ABLKs) of the abdominal neuromeres co-express LK and a diuretic hormone (DH44), and together, these regulate water and ion homeostasis and associated stress as well as food intake. In Drosophila larvae, LK neurons modulate locomotion, escape responses and aspects of ecdysis behavior. A set of lateral neurosecretory cells, ALKs (anterior LK neurons), in the brain express LK in larvae, but inconsistently so in adults. These ALKs co-express three other neuropeptides and regulate water and ion homeostasis, feeding, and drinking, but the specific role of LK is not yet known. This review summarizes Drosophila data on embryonic lineages of LK neurons, functional roles of individual LK neuron types, interactions with other peptidergic systems, and orchestrating functions of LK.     

Novel energy-saving window coating based on F doped TiO2 nanocrystals with enhanced NIR shielding performance

To reduce the energy consumption of cooling in the hot summer days, searching for novel NIR shielding materials for buildings is of great value. In this report, monodispersed F doped TiO₂ nanocrystals with an average size of 8.6 nm were synthesized as novel solar shielding materials for energy-saving windows. All the products adopted an anatase TiO₂ structure. After doping of F ions, the morphology of TiO₂ was transformed from an irregular shape to a pseudospherical shape. The Raman shift and XPS depth analysis confirmed the successful doping of F⁻ ions into the lattice oxygen sites in the TiO₂ structure. The introduction of F⁻ ions generated free electrons and bulk Ti³⁺ in TiO₂ crystals, which activated a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption in the NIR region. Correspondingly, the NIR shielding performance of the TiO₂ films improved with increasing F doping amounts. The NIR shielding value of the films increased from 1.3% to 43.2% when the molar ratio of F to Ti increased from 0 to 0.3. The reason can be attributed to the enhanced NIR absorption induced by the increased electron concentration after doping of fluorine ions. The F–TiO₂ films showed superior visible transmittance (90.1–96.7%). Moreover, the F–TiO₂ films lowered the indoor temperature of the heat box by 5.3 °C in the thermal tests. Overall, the prepared F–TiO₂ nanocrystals show a great potential to be used for energy-saving windows.     

Echo signal envelope fitting based signal processing methods for ultrasonic gas flow-meter

The echo signal of the ultrasonic gas flow-meter is difficult to locate, and the computation of signal processing methods proposed by others is extensive which affects the meter’s real-time performance. Aiming at solving these problems the echo signal envelopes under different flow rates are analyzed. And three kinds of signal processing methods based on echo signal envelope fitting are proposed. The shape of the echo signal remains the “approximate spindle shape” as the flow rate increases, and the envelope gradient of the middle parts of the upper envelope’s rising section and the lower envelope’s falling section remains the same at different flow rates, so the mathematical models of the two sections are established to obtain the envelope gradient curves of the two sections. With the envelope gradient curves, the ranges of envelope and peak points that linearly distributed are obtained. The least squares fitting is performed on those peak points to obtain two feature straight lines for respectively representing the upper envelope’s rising section and the lower envelope’s falling section. According to the spatial characteristics of the feature straight lines, the points on the feature straight lines are selected as the feature points for quickly locating the echo signal. According to the offline verification and comparison, the best one of three kinds of signal processing methods is selected, and realized on the hardware system of the two-channel ultrasonic gas flow-meter. The transmitter of two-channel ultrasonic gas flow-meter is developed based on FPGA & DSP dual core structure. It utilizes the parallel processing capacity and logic control ability of FPGA to realize the controlling of the high-speed ADC & DAC and the storage of the data. At the same time, it adopts the high-speed computing capacity of DSP to implement the digital signal processing method. The gas flow calibration experiments were carried out in a national accredited testing agency to verify the effectiveness of the signal processing methods and system. The experimental results show that the improved signal processing method based on echo signal upper and lower envelope fitting can quickly and accurately locate the echo signal. And the measurable range of the ultrasonic gas flow meter based on this signal processing method is broadened to 10 m³/h to 1,300 m³/h, and the turndown ratio is broadened to 1:130.     

云南野生黄毛草莓的营养价值评价和香气成分分析

分析黄毛草莓的果实品质和香气成分并对比其他栽培品种的差异，为其品质特性评价和香气利用奠定基础。通过直接滴定法、酸碱滴定法、福林酚法、直接法、2,6-二氯靛酚滴定法和质构仪测定法对4种草莓（黄毛草莓、密宝、哈尼、R7）的还原糖、总酸、总酚、花色苷、维生素C和硬度共6项指标进行测定，综合比较4种草莓的品质；运用顶空固相微萃取和气相色谱—质谱联用技术分析草莓果实的香气成分并做聚类分析。结果显示，在营养价值方面，黄毛草莓综合评分值仅次于哈尼排在第2位，高于密宝和R7。在果实香气方面，黄毛草莓的香气鉴定物质种类最多为83种，密宝有66种，哈尼有64种，R7有57种。在4种草莓的挥发物中，酯类是主要的挥发物（30.23%~52.70%），其中黄毛草莓的酯类相对含量最高（52.70%）。构成黄毛草莓特征香气的主要成分是香味酯：异戊酸乙酯、己酸乙酯、辛酸乙酯、乙酸辛酯、甲酸辛酯、癸酸乙酯、乙酸癸酯、香味醇反式-2-己烯-1-醇。黄毛草莓香气主成分聚类分析的结果显示，黄毛草莓和其他3个栽培品种分为两类，在香气主成分上与其他3种栽培品种存在显著差异。黄毛草莓中富含多种香精香料与洗护产品等行业所需的特殊香气成分，具有极大应用潜力。     

双相区加速冷却处理对X80管线钢组织与性能的影响

采用双相区加速冷却法(加速冷却始冷温度为700 ℃)对X80管线钢进行热处理,获得了贝氏体和铁素体(B+F)双相组织。然后通过组织表征、力学性能测试以及在3.5wt%NaCl溶液中的耐蚀性进行研究。结果表明:热处理后获得的管线钢组织由板条状贝氏体、多边形铁素体及少量马氏体/奥氏体岛组成。与热处理前相比,(B+F)双相管线钢屈强比较低,为0.65,初始加工硬化指数为0.31,均匀伸长率达8.3%,塑性显著提升;双相组织中含有52.4%的铁素体,因而耐腐蚀性明显提高。通过双相区加速冷却法获得的(B+F)两相组织在塑变过程中发生协调变形,可以适应大变形的需求,同时耐蚀性优异,为大变形管线钢实际生产提供一定的借鉴。     

早冠丝瓜406新品种的选育

早冠丝瓜406是以S4为母本、X06为父本配制而成的一代杂种.极早熟,植株主蔓分枝性强,生长性强盛;雌花节位低,首朵雌花着生于主蔓第5节~7节,采收期为播种后58 d^60 d开始;嫩瓜呈长棒形,果端较圆,果皮深绿色,单果重0.5 kg^0.9 kg,果实纵径42 cm^50 cm,横径3.7 cm^4.2 cm,前期产量为16772.0 kg/hm^2,总产量可达47447.5 kg/hm^2.适合长江流域、云贵高原及湖南地区早春设施和露地栽培.     

人参皂苷F2干预Caspase级联反应抑制H2O2诱导的细胞凋亡

本研究探讨了人参皂苷F2对H_2O_2诱导人胚肾HEK-293细胞损伤的抗凋亡作用。利用试剂盒测定凋亡细胞Caspase-6和Caspase-9活性水平,应用WesternBlot检测凋亡细胞中Bcl-2凋亡家族(Bcl-2和Bax)与Caspase凋亡家族(CleavedCaspase-3和Cleaved PARP)的蛋白表达量。H_2O_2损伤细胞后,Caspase酶活力提高,促凋亡蛋白表达提高;1.25、5、20μmol/L F2预处理损伤细胞后,Caspase-6和Caspase-9活力呈浓度依赖性降低(p0.05),当F2浓度达到20μmol/L时,Caspase-6活性降低了6.83 U/mg protein,Caspase-9活性降低了5.88U/mgprotein;CleavedCaspase-3和CleavedPARP蛋白表达量显著低于损伤组(p0.05),随着F2浓度的升高,Cleaved Caspase-3表达量分别下降至280.90%、232.46%、185.26%,Cleaved PARP表达量随着F2浓度升高而降低至110.36%、85.85%、61.95%;F2高浓度组的Bcl-2/Bax比值(73.94%)较损伤组比显著提升(p0.05)。表明人参皂苷F2可以抑制凋亡蛋白Caspase的活性,降低Bax促凋亡蛋白与Caspase家族上、中、下游蛋白的表达,通过调控Caspase级联反应抑制H_2O_2刺激引起的细胞凋亡。     

Paste backfill of high-sulphide mill tailings using alkali-activated blast furnace slag: Effect of activator nature,concentration and slag properties

The effect of activator type, concentration and slag composition on the strength and stability properties of paste backfill (CPB) of high-sulphide tailings using alkali-activated slag (AAS) as binder (7 wt.%) were investigated in this study. Acidic and neutral (AS–NS) slags were activated with liquid sodium silicate (LSS) and sodium hydroxide (SH) at 6–10 wt.% concentrations. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) results were used for comparison. The strength development was found to remarkably improve with increasing the concentration from 6 to 8 wt.%. Further increase in concentration did not enhance the strength. SH was determined to produce higher early-age strength whilst LSS produced higher long-term strengths as an indication of slag selectivity for activators. More extensive gypsum formation was observed at lower concentrations in SEM/EDS studies. An increase in Na₂O concentration raised the activator consumption. High concentrations also led to poorly crystallized C–S–H gel, loose structure and drying shrinkage cracks especially in NS–SH samples. A reduction in total porosity up to 20% was obtained in AAS samples compared to OPC. Amorphous structure, chemical modulus ratio and/or basicity index (BI) values were seen to control the pozzolanic reactivity, and therefore, the alkali-activation and hardening process.